06/03/2006
Apo Reef After Typhoon Caloy
This post is from John Manul.
Last Sunday, May 28, 2006, we made an ocular inspection at Apo Reef to
determine the extent of damage brought about by Typhoon Caloy. A manta tow
revealed massive coral reef destruction along the slopes at the drop off
around Apo Island. The branching corals suffered the worst damage. Table
corals were over-turned or broken into pieces. Similar destruction was seen
in other sloping portions around the protected area. We estimated that as
much as 20-30% of the total coral cover of Apo Reef was damaged in that one
storm.
Many stands of beautiful branching corals where turned into rubble, as if
struck by a powerful explosion; and most of the table corals were either
broken or overturned. The coral that remained standing looked dead to me
because many were blanketed in white sand. I can1t help but feel that it may
take years before Apo can recover fully from this very sad event. Can
someone find ways for us to help speed up the recovery of Apo Reef? Paul
Saludar, our communications officer, documented the damage. We will send
you copies of his photos.
On May 13, 2006, Apo 1, one of two patrol boats given by WWF to the Apo Reef
Park was destroyed by the typhoon while at the banca anchorage here in
Sablayan. Except for the engine and batteries, which were buried in the sand
nearby and recovered after the storm, all traces of that patrol boat were
gone. Only 1 patrol boat remains to service the 27,469 hectare protected
areas of Apo Reef.
Regional Technical Director of DENR-MIMAROPA ,Edgardo Galeon, opted to set
aside our warning of the coming storm. As a result, he was stranded at Apo
Reef together with 7 PAO staff and 2 of our own WWF staff for 6 days from
May 11 to 15, 2006.
The Sablayan Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council reported that 1,034
families ( 5,838 individuals) were adversely affecfed by "Caloy". 362
families lost their homes (estimated cost P 5,430,000.00). Cost of damage
to crops was estimated at about P 176,992,500.00, infrastructure damage was
estimated at P 6,730,000.00. 42 fishing boats were reported damaged and a
tourist boat owned by nearby Pandan Resort sank at its anchorage.
The good news is, no casualty to human life was reported.
06:48 Posted by Shee Pagsuyoin in Apo Reef | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04/06/2006
Hope for Sulu Sulawesi
Lest we are tagged as ‘bad news bloggers’, here’s some good news. After 6 years of hard work, the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have just signed a tripartite agreement to conserve and manage the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME). This milestone agreement over Southeast Asia’s most biologically productive marine environment gives the region hope.
02:27 Posted by sr in Apo Reef , Batangas , Biodiversity , Marine , Sulu Sulawesi Ecoregion , Sustainable Business , Sustainable Consumption | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: Ecology & Environment